Characters: Colonies are composed of contorted branches, sometimes with flat laminar bases. Stands over 5 metres across and one metre high are not unusual. Corallites are 4-6 millimetres diameter, thick walled and have six thick primary septa. The coenosteum is covered with tall spinules.
Colour: Dark brown, cream or green.
Similar Species: Echinopora gemmacea, which does not form extensive branches. Echinopora mammiformis has a smooth coenosteum with distinctively coloured corallites.
Habitat: Forms large stands on protected horizontal substrates including shallow reefs and lagoons.
Abundance: Uncommon.
Taxonomic References: Chevalier (1975); Veron, Pichon and Wijsman-Best (1977); Wijsman-Best (1980); Veron (2000a); Huang, Benzoni, Fukami et al. (2014);
Identification Guides: Veron (1986a);
